Total brings Moho-Bilondo field on stream

LONDON, Apr. 28 -- Total E&P Congo has produced first oil from the deepwater offshore Moho-Bilondo field in Congo (Brazzaville) nearly a month ahead of schedule.

Production from Moho-Bilondo is expected to plateau at 90,000 b/d from nine producing wells and five water injectors in two subsea clusters.

The field, which lies in 540-730 m of water, is thought to hold 230 million bbl of oil reserves.

Total said this was the first deepwater offshore development in the country. Insulated umbilicals and flowlines will bring the oil to the floating production unit, from which it will be exported via a new 16-in., 80-km pipeline to Total-operated Djeno onshore terminal.

Drilling complex, extended-reach wells is a key technological trait of Moho-Bilondo. "One innovative feature is the use of bottomhole gas injection in a deep offshore project. Despite the complex development plan, the reservoir was brought on stream in a record 33 months after the signature of construction contracts," Total said.

The company is evaluating development options for the Moho Marine Nord 1 and Nord 2 wells, drilled in 2007 in the northern part of the license (OGJ, Apr. 9, 2007, Newsletter). Both revealed significant additional resources of good-quality oil.